ES2257843T3 - SUPER SENSITIVE WINDOW SENSITIVE TO THE CONTEXT FOR A PORTABLE PHONE. - Google Patents

Abstract

A MOBILE PHONE HAS A DISPLAY, MEANS OF ENTRY TO ENTER INFORMATION AND INSTRUCTIONS, AND A CONTROL UNIT THAT SUPERVISES THE DISPLAY ACCORDING TO THE OPERATION OF THE ENTRY MEANS. ENTRY MEANS INCLUDE NAVIGATION MEANS TO MOVE A MARKER IN AN ACTIVE PART OF THE SCREEN. THE NAVIGATION MEDIA ARE EQUIPPED WITH A ROTATING BODY, AND INCLUDE MEANS TO DETECT THE ROLL AND DEPRESSION OF THE ROLLER BODY, AND PROVIDE CONTROL SIGNS IN RESPONSE TO THE SAME. IN AN INFORMATION ENTRY MODE, THE CONTROL UNIT MOVES THE MARKER ON THE SCREEN, ACCORDING TO THE TURN CONTROL SIGNAL, AND GENERATES A "POP-UP" WINDOW TO THE RECEPTION OF A PULSATION CONTROL SIGN, COVERING THE WINDOW SUCH "POP-UP" A PART OF THE ACTIVE SCREEN, AND CONTAINING OPERATIONS THAT ARE ADMITTED IN A POSITION DEFINED BY THE MENTIONED MARKER.

Description

Context-sensitive overlay window for a Portable Phone.

The invention relates to a portable telephone with a new and improved user interface (UI).

The UI of handheld handsets for cellular or wireless systems, not only support the management of the call. In recent generations of portable phones from hand phone applications have been increasingly integrated new.

EP-A-0792056 describes a portable communication apparatus provided with a presentation screen showing a hierarchy of menu options. The user can scroll vertically to through the menu options of a hierarchy and make a selection from the menu, and then the entire screen of presentation shows menu options of a different level from the hierarchy, associated with the selected menu option.

Navigation between the menu items, the handling of individual applications and text editing as entry for applications are difficult to make, due to that the most commonly used type of navigation is carried out using a vertical up / down scroll key. He number of operations that can be performed using a telephone Handheld laptop continues to increase. However, in order to making the phone easier to use is desirable to simplify the keyboard, since many non-technical users are afraid of keys when they don't know how to handle these keys. In general, the consumers get scared when they see an overloaded keyboard with special keys

In order to reduce the number of keys of a handset more and more functions are integrated into a number of reduced keys. A phone called Nokia 3110® marketed by the applicant has a very limited number of keys with the functions and operations most commonly used as options by defect, while unused functions and operations so They are often alternative options. This concept is described in a UK patent application 9624520.4 (GB-A-2319691, US-A-6,363,259) and was totally accepted by users when it was submitted.

Although this concept makes it much easier for new phone users become familiar with the operations more commonly used, such as making calls, handling the phone book electronic telephone, etc., does not improve the usability of more rarely used operations, such as making calls from conference, message handling, etc.

UK patent application 9703646.1 (GB-A-2,322,513, US-A-6,195,569) describes a concept according to which a window emerges when a function key. This window contains a list including operations available using the function key.

In accordance with the invention a portable phone comprising: a presentation device adapted to provide a presentation of data, means of input to enter information and instructions, and a unit of control to control the presentation device depending on the performance of the means of entry; including the means of entry: a navigation key to move a marker between different positions of the presentation screen; and a key of selection to supply a request to the control unit for to provide a presentation of the allowed operations depending on the position of the marker; where the control unit you can generate an overlay window that covers only part of the presentation screen upon receipt of the request, showing the window these operations allowed depending on the position of the marker; and the navigation key and the selection key, allow a user to navigate between allowed operations present in the overlay window, and select one of the allowed operations, the window being initiated by the user superimposed by pressing the selection key.

Advantageously, the navigation key and selection can be centrally positioned in a set on a front surface of said telephone.

The set of navigation keys and selection can include a roller body that can be depressed; a support structure for the roller body; a encoder operatively connected to said control unit for detect the rotation of the roller body; and a connected sensor operationally to said control unit to detect the depression of the roller body; generating the control unit the overlay window that includes a set of operations allowed, and covering a portion of said presentation screen upon receiving a request provided by the depression of roller body

In this way the options normally present on the function keys and cursor navigation can be integrated into the roller body of the navigation means.

An important advantage is that the active part of the presentation screen can be increased, because one of the three to five lines of text on the presentation screen already You don't have to be dedicated to presenting the functionality of the key of function. Another advantage is that a certain number of keys It can simply be omitted. In a simple way, in this way it is easy to obtain a navigation and selection key with the desired properties

An embodiment of the invention provides a New and improved user interface for a telephone equipment hand, where the alternative and default options available are show so that they offer the user a better view of the Available options.

The contents of the window superimposed on a input or edit mode show context sensitivity determined by the marker. Currently, the screens of LCD presentation are the preferred type of presentation used for example, for phones, and this type of presentation is a dot matrix screen in which the presentation signs are preferably arranged in a predetermined number of lines in the active part of the presentation screen, being able to each of these lines contain a plurality of signs, and the cited marker is provided as a blinking bar that can be positioned between two of the mentioned signs. Is introduced a new sign to the right of the flashing bar, and the bar Flashing moves to the right of the new sign entered.

Providing the editor with a non-editor dependent on an alphanumeric keyboard, but controlled by the control unit and operated by the selection key device and navigation, the alphanumeric keyboard can simply be omitted In this way it is possible to have the key set of navigation and selection based on the roller body as the only Enter key A power on / off key can Be present on the phone. The control unit defines for the editor a first portion of presentation on the screen of presentation to present a chain of information introduced; a second presentation portion on the presentation screen to present a string of a plurality of candidates from possible information; one of the candidates in the chain of candidates is highlighted by the cursor whose displacement through the information candidates is controlled by the turn of the middle navigation key, and said highlighted candidate can select to enter it in the information chain introduced by pressing the key means of navigation.

The overlay window may be unchecked in the active presentation screen area through lines of delimitation that define a rectangular frame. When the text is black on a bright background (yellow or green), advantageously black, the rectangular frame can be just like the text and have a width line corresponding to 2-3 pixels or points. When the area of the overlay window covers from 30 percent to 70 percent of the total presentation area active, the user will always have the possibility to see a part of the background screen which is enough to recognize the mode or presentation

According to one embodiment, the window overlay contains two to four operations that can be selected within the rectangular frame. However, the unit control handles a list that includes a plurality of operations that can be selected, arranged in an order default with only a fraction of the complete set of operations showing simultaneously in the overlay window. The rotation of the selection and navigation key set causes the exploration through the complete set of operations. Of that Window mode moves along the entire list.

Preferably, the complete list is not provides as an endless loop. Preferably, the set complete operations is arranged with two defined operations respectively, such as a first element and a last element of the list; and in listing mode, when the cursor passes outside of the first or last item in the list, the window overlay disappears and the phone goes from listing mode to mode associated with the background screen.

Preferably, the sensitive overlay window Context includes all available operations. These are available from a number of submenus of agreement With the current technique. Now the user no longer has to remember the road to the submenu - you can simply select it from from a list

The invention will now be described, only by way of For example, with reference to the attached drawings, in which:

Figure 1 schematically illustrates a preferred embodiment of a portable handheld phone according with the invention

Figure 2 schematically shows the parts components of a telephone for communication with a cellular network or wireless

Figure 3 shows schematically and in a cross section of the phone part shown in figure 1 included in the navigation and selection key.

Figure 4 schematically illustrates a preferred embodiment of a presentation screen with a overlay window according to the invention.

Figure 5 schematically illustrates one of the presentation screens shown in figure 4 to scale increased

Figure 6 schematically illustrates a alternative embodiment of a portable handheld phone according with the invention

Figure 7 shows a state diagram for the portable hand phone according to the invention.

Figure 8 shows an example of the editor used in portable handheld phone according to the invention.

Figure 1 shows a preferred embodiment of a telephone according to the invention, and it will be seen that the telephone, which is generally designated by 1, comprises an interface of user with a keyboard 2, a presentation screen 3, a button on / off 4, a headset 5, and a microphone 6. The telephone 1 according to the preferred embodiment is adapted to communicate through a cellular network, but you can also have been designed, for example, for a wireless network. He keyboard 2 has a first group 7 of keys, such as keys alphanumeric, by means of which the user can enter a phone number, write a text message (SMS), write a name (associated with the phone number), etc. Each of the twelve alphanumeric keys 7 is provided with a figure "0 to 9 "or a" # "and" * "sign, respectively. In the mode alpha each key is associated with a number of letters and signs Specials used in text editing.

The keyboard 2 additionally comprises a key navigation and selection 10 and a delete key. The key of deletion 12 can be used, for example, to erase the last digit or letter entered by a short press, while more lasting pressure will erase the whole word or the number.

The phone can comprise two keys call management as in the Nokia 8110? but agree with the preferred embodiment of the invention call management is included in the navigation and selection key 10. This means that by pressing the navigation key and selecting 10, a once in idle mode with at least one digit on the display of presentation will cause the appearance of a window with "call establishment" as an item to appear, and when the call has been established by selecting "call establishment" by means of the pressure of the Navigation and selection key 10, the window elements overlay will change to "end call", "call conference ", etc.

Navigation and selection key 10 is centrally located on the front surface of the phone between the presentation screen 3 and the alphanumeric key group 7. In this way the user will be able to control this key with his thumb. This is the best place to place an entry key that requires precise motor displacements. Many users of Experienced phone are accustomed to driving with just one hand. Place the phone in your hand between the fingertips and The palm of the hand. In this way the thumb is free to Enter information

As you will see in Figure 3, the navigation and selection 10 includes a roller body 20 that is partially extends through a cover opening front 21 of the telephone, said roller body 20 being essentially cylindrical with a length and diameter thereof size than the width of the keys in the alphanumeric group of keys 7. When the axis of rotation of the roller body 20 is arranged so that it extends perpendicularly to the axis longitudinal telephone 1, the rotation of the roller body 20 move a cursor on the presentation screen in one direction up / down corresponding to the displacement of the thumb. To fulfill this purpose the navigation and selection key is provided with coding means (not shown) that convert the rotation of the roller body in an electric pulse train that they feed a processor 17 of the phone. The key structure selection and navigation is also provided with a microswitch (not shown) to detect the depression of the roller body 20, thereby providing a selection signal for processor 17 indicating that the element indicated on the presentation screen has been selected. The Navigation and selection key is described in detail in the UK patent applications 9727062.3, 9727058.1 and 9727060.7 (GB-A-2329094; GB-A-2329070 and GB-A-2329083; US-A-6,097,964) presented by the applicant on December 22, 1997.

When the navigation and selection key 10 is arranged as an extension of the central column of the keys alphanumeric 7, you can optimally access the key navigation and selection 10 by both right and right users left handed

Figure 2 schematically shows the parts most important of a preferred embodiment of a telephone portable, said parts being essential for the understanding of the invention. The preferred embodiment of the telephone of the invention is adapted to be used in connection with the GSM network but, for of course, the invention can also be applied in connection with others telephone networks, such as cellular networks and various forms of wireless phone systems. Microphone 6 records the voice of the user, and the analog signals formed in this way are converted A / D into an A / D converter 15 before the voice is encoded in a unit of audio coding-decoding (codec) 14. The encoded voice signal is transferred to a layer processor physics 17, which supports the GSM terminal software. He processor 17 also forms the interface for the units device peripherals, including memories (RAM 17a, ROM 17b), the presentation screen 3 and the keyboard 2 (as well as the SIM, data, power feeder, etc.). The processor 17 communicates with the RF part 19 through a baseband converter and a equalizer channel 16. The unit of audio coding-decoding 14 decodes the voice signal, which is transferred from processor 17 to headset 5 through a D / A converter 13. Units 13 to 17 they are normally integrated into a chipset - well one commercially available or in a set of designed chips especially (ASIC's).

       \ newpage
    

The processor 17, which serves as a unit of control in a manner known per se of the preferred embodiment, It is connected to the user interface. In this way, it is the processor which monitors the activity on the phone and controls the presentation screen 3 in response to it.

Therefore, it is the processor 17 that detects the occurrence of a state change event and the state changes of the phone and, consequently, the screen text of presentation. A change of state event may be caused by the user when you activate the keyboard including the navigation key and selection 10, and such events are called input events or user events. The processor 17 is able to detect the turn and the depression of the roller body 20 by means of a micro-switch and an encoder, as will be briefly explained with reference to figure 3. However, also the telephone communication network may cause an event of change of state. This type of events and other events beyond of user control are called events outside the user. The non-user events include changes in status during call establishment, changes in battery voltage, changes in the antenna conditions, messages in the reception of SMS, etc.

Figure 3 illustrates how the key set of navigation and selection is located on a hand phone laptop. The selection and navigation key structure comprises a roller body 20 that acts as a selection key and navigation and a carrier 23 to support the roller body 20. The carrier 23 comprises a support arm 29 of the short shaft 28 as articulation parts, an arm 30 and a bearing axis 24 of the body roller 20. The two arms 29, 30 and shaft 24 are parallel and they are interconnected by bearings 31, 35 at each end.

A part of the roller body 20 extends to through a very tight opening (without contact) of the cover 21 front of the phone. The back side of the front cover 21 It is provided with two grip arms 27 with U-shaped recesses 34 to receive the short shafts 28, thus, as a support structure, defining a joint axis for the carrier 23. The grip arms 27 act as members spacers between the front cover 21 of the phone and the board printed circuit (PCB) 25. The latter constitutes a member of shaft bearing closure provided by recesses 34 of the grip arms 27. The distance between the grip arms 27 is slightly shorter than the length of a shaft body 24 to avoid axial displacement of the carrier 23.

A spring 26 is provided as an actuation means for driving the wearer away from the printed circuit board 25 towards the front cover 21 of the telephone. The front cover 21 is provided with two braking legs 32 that cooperate with an upper surface of the carrier part 30 away from the joint 28, 34. The lower surface of the carrier part 30 is adapted for cooperation with a micro-switch 33. The distance between the contact faces in the micro-switch 33 and the brake legs 32 is slightly greater than the thickness of the corresponding carrier part. The spring 26 pushes the wearer towards the braking legs 32. When the user presses the roller with a force greater than the force of the spring, the wearer will be pushed against the micro-switch 33 giving an output signal in dependence thereon. The micro-switch 33 acts as a detection means to detect the force that counteracts the restoring force provided by the spring
26.

When the roller body 20 is pressed, the Full structure of the selection and navigation key performs a rolling shift around the axis of the joint defined by the gripping means 28, 24.

The final wall of the roller body 20 is provided with a number of driving areas 37. As indicated in Figure 3, a number (three according to the embodiment preferred) of sliding shoes 36 (contact springs) of the metal strips slide along a circular path that Go to the driving areas. The sliding shoes 36 and the conduction areas 37 are the interactive part of the encoder by means of which the control unit 17 detects the rotation of the body of roller 20. The sliding shoes are mounted on a carrier surface 23 facing the final face of the body of roller 20.

The processor 17 handles a number of screens - normally one for each open application, and the screen for the active application at that time is currently presented in the presentation screen 3. When the phone is in idle mode, Simply monitor the network for an incoming call. The idle mode screen, seen as the first screen of the Figure 4, will include information identifying the network operator, here "Sonofon", and indicates that the depression of the roller body 20 of the navigation key and selection 10 will give access to the menu of the phone. In addition the screen may include some indications of been informing the user about the battery level, the quality of the RF connection, local time, etc.

As will be seen in the second screen of the figure 4, pressing the selection and navigation key 10 will cause a superimposed window appears above the previous screen. The overlay window 40 partially covers the underlying window, but in a way that the user is still able to recognize the background screen The number of lines of text that may appear on the superimposed screen 40 depends, of course, on the source used But if the full screen includes five lines of text, advantageously, the overlay screen may include Three lines of text. The number of options or items available at a certain cursor position it will generally exceed the number of lines, but then only part of the list will be presented.

The list of menu items shown in the overlay window 40 of figure 4 normally includes up to Ten elements or even more. The list could be as follows:

1. Phone book - FI

2. Messages

3. Call log

4. Phone settings

5. Call forwarding services

6. Calendar

7. Tone configuration - LI

The functionality associated with each of the Menu items is well known for commercial products, for example, Nokia 3110? of the applicant. As will be seen in the Figure 4, only items 2 to 4 of the menu list are shown in the overlay window 40. You will see that one of the elements in the list is marked by a bookmark comprising an icon that acts as a cursor 42. Alternatively, the element could be marked by a bar with inverse colors. The cursor 42 is controlled by the rotation of the roller body 20 of the key navigation and selection 10, and the element indicated by the cursor It can be selected by pressing roller body 20.

The items in the list are followed by a icon (here three points) 41, selecting the item generates A new list of items to present. Basically this will be the situation for all items in the main menu list. It should be noted that the first and last items in the list are marked respectively by delimitation icons 44 as FI (first element) and LI (last element). When cursor 42 is move outside the limits defined by these elements (by example, pass the first element in the upward direction), the Overlay window will disappear automatically.

On the first screen, of the second row of the Figure 4 the user selects the menu item "Message" and this will cause a new menu list to emerge, and, as you will see on the second screen in the second row, this menu will include menus Standard message management, such as:

1. Read messages.

2. Write messages.

3. Submit shipping report.

4. Message Center number.

5. Response through the center itself.

6. Shipping reports.

7. Voicemail number.

The standby mode screen will still be present as a background screen, and the phone will return to this idle mode screen if no item is selected in a time of, for example, 5 seconds. If the user selects the "Write message" element, the overlay window will disappear and the background screen will change from the screen of the "standby mode" to the presentation screen "enter text ", as shown on the single presentation screen of the third row in figure 4 with a status line 45 in the highest part of the screen informing the user that the entry text is for a message delivery application (write message), that the text entry application is in mode alpha (ABC), and that cursor 43 is in position 124 (an SMS message contains a maximum of 160 characters, and position 124 means a maximum of 124 characters remain).

Presentation screen 3 is provided as a dot matrix display to present signs arranged in a predetermined number of lines, each of which can contain a plurality of signs. The cursor 43 or the marker is provides as a blinking bar that can be located between Two of these signs. When roller body 20 is pressed with cursor 43 located in the text, the processor starts showing a context sensitive overlay window that includes a number of items or operations that can be selected. The context sensitive overlay window 46 covers a portion of active presentation screen, and contains operations that are allowed at a position defined by cursor 43 prior to roller body pressure 20.

When the context sensitive overlay window 46 appears in a part of the screen, the list of items that can be selected can include elements related to SMS messages and items related to text editing. The list could include items such as:

1. Insert.

2. Mark text starting.

3. Paste.

4. Send.

5. Save.

6. Exit.

7. Delete.

If "Insert" is selected, the user will be required to specify in a new overlay window, what you want to insert and where to find it - for example, a card electronic visit (notebook), a name or a number (directory electronic telephone), etc.

If the user selects "Mark text starting ", as in the situation on the first screen of the fourth row in figure 4, this cursor position will be managed as a first position. As will be seen in the second fourth row screen in figure 4, the user can move cursor 43 to a new position by rotating the body of roller 20. It should be noted that status line 45 shows that the Current status is to mark text. When cursor 43 has been moved to a new position by means of the navigation and selection key 10, a context sensitive overlay screen 46 will appear at press the navigation and selection key 10, as will be seen in the third screen of the fourth row of figure 4. The user can now select from the list in the overlay window 40 what operation wants to perform in the marked text. Not imported yes the First cursor position is the first or second.

In response to the selection of the text marked on controller 17 generates a context sensitive overlay window 46 (third screen of the fourth row of figure 4), asking yes the user wants to cut or copy to clipboard or replace (paste) the text marked with the contents of the clipboard. If copy the text marked on the clipboard, the paste operation allows to the user transfer the copied text to another application or another file or burn it in the same application. The "Paste" option does not appears in the overlay window when the clipboard memory it's empty.

With the selection of the option "Send" the processor 17 will generate an overlay window (with the message below) asking for the receiver's phone number, followed by a request to enter the message center number if It has not already been stored on the phone.

When the user selects the option "Save", the phone suggests saving the entered text and Give the recording a name, such as 98.03.26-10: 45 (indicating the time for recording `` year.month.day - hour.minutes). The "Exit" option cause to exit the application without saving or sending the text edited, while the "Delete" option will erase the text edited but the user will remain in the application.

It should be noted that the window superimposed on the second row appears when you press the navigation key and selection 10 when it acts as a function key. According to the preferred embodiment this will be the situation when the phone is in a mode without entering a user input. There will not be cursor on the presentation screen during these modes without user input Typically this will be the situation when the user navigates in the menu structure, for example, started in standby mode, until you need to enter an entry.

When the user is required to enter an entry, for example, write a message, as explained in in relation to figure 4, the entire active part of the screen is Available for data entry. It will be seen in figure 4, third and fourth rows, how the antenna indicators disappear and drums. The function key text also disappears. In the mode data entry, navigation key and selection 10 no longer will have a special functionality or give access to the structure of the menu. When you press the navigation key and select 10 in in this mode, the context sensitive overlay window 46 will appear, and processor 17 will only allow operations that are allowed in the current application and with the current cursor position showing in the context sensitive overlay window 46.

You can get out of both, the overlay window context sensitive 46 and the common menu item containing the overlay window 40, moving cursor 42 out of bounds from the window or by pressing the "delete" key 12. The phone will go back to the application related to the underlying screen partially visible behind the overlay window.

A display screen for a telephone according to the invention can be, for example, of the LCD type with a dot matrix screen area of a size of 30 x 44 mm (height x width). The points can preferably be rectangular, for example, of a size of 0.42 x 0.34 mm (height x width - corresponding to a resolution of 57 x 70 dpi in a vertical and horizontal direction, respectively) and being arranged with a To stop-
0.02 mm. This will provide approximately 68 x 120 points (height x width) or pixels in the active part.

As you will see in Figure 4, the phone uses a number of, for example, three standard sources for the screen, and processor 17 changes sources dynamically (without actions of the user) in dependence with predetermined rules. Typically, each sign uses (height x width) 10 x 7 pixels in the largest font and 7 x 5 pixels in the smallest font. The sources used in the embodiment shown in figure 4 no they have a fixed width - letters like "l" require less width than the letter "m". The height is the same for all font signs, and the width varies from two pixels (for "i") up to seven pixels (for "M" and "W") with a average width in the range of about five pixels. Generally, two neighboring signs are spaced by a single pixel. and two lines are spaced by three pixels. On the screen of standby mode, columns with a width of ten pixels are used in each side of the screen for status bars 48, and used a row with a height corresponding to thirteen pixels for the function key text 49.

In text entry mode the entire area of Active screen will be available (here 68 x 120 pixels). The line status 45 has a width corresponding to 120 pixels, and with a font based on a width of approximately five pixels and a pixel spacing in between will be allowed approximately twenty characters in the status line. Character height It can be nine pixels. Status line 45 is separated from the part of text along a line 47, so 51 x 120 will be found available pixels for text - and this will correspond to four lines with up to approximately twenty characters in each line.

Cursor 43 will be implemented as a bar blinking (1 x 11 pixels) blinking (pixels turning on and turning off) about once per second. When the window overlapping 40 or 46 appears, is surrounded by an edge rectangular 50, as will be seen in figure 5. Outside this border 50 the underlying window is visible. The edge 50 may have a width corresponding to two pixels. As will be seen in Figure 5, a slightly smaller font is used, and this allows the overlay window contains three lines of text with the line of state 45 and the last line in the text part being fully visible In accordance with the preferred embodiment of the invention the overlay window will use 40 x 84 pixels. With the border width present and a spacing of some pixels between the border and text, the overlay window part usable for Present text functionality can include 32 x 76 pixels. With a 7 x 5 font, three lines with 12 to 15 can be presented characters. With the screen size mentioned above, the overlay window will cover just over 40 percent of the total The active screen. It has been found that an overlay window it can advantageously cover from 30 to 60%, preferably between 30 and 50 percent of the total active screen when the presentation screen has a size corresponding to 50-100 x 75-200 pixels When the overlay window is too small, it becomes difficult to read the text, and when the overlay window covers a substantial part of the presentation screen, the user is no longer Able to recognize the background screen.

Figure 6 shows an alternative embodiment of a portable hand phone according to the invention, and this phone is notable because alphanumeric keys are omitted, and because all the functions are available in the navigation and selection 10. The navigation and selection key 10 is really the only key to enter the phone. Today, all phones have between 15 and 20 keys or even a greater number of keys

From standby mode, press the key navigation and selection 10 gives access to the phone menu. Here the menu list used in the embodiment explained with reference to Figure 1 needs some additional elements. The list could be as follows:

1. Call - FI

2. Phone book

3. Editor

4. Messages

5. Call log

6. Phone settings

7. Call forwarding services

8. Tone settings - LI

As you will see in the list, only two new Menu items are necessary, and these are "Call" and "Editor". Figure 7 illustrates how applications interact in the phone shown in figure 6.

Advantageously, the phone is capable of assume a plurality of states in which a group of actions or default functions associated with the state concerned can be made or accessed through the key navigation and selection 10. Processor 17 shows one of said Function groups as a default function. U function default operation is executed by pressing the navigation key and selection 10, and the complete set of operations is available with the turn of the navigation key and selection 10.

Figure 7 illustrates how the one-key telephone according to an alternative embodiment of the invention can change state from idle mode 100 in two ways. Whether detects an incoming call, the phone changes to a state of call handling 110 in which the user is allowed to answer the call by pressing the navigation and selection key 10. By turning the navigation key and selecting 10 the window will appear superimposed with the complete set of allowed actions, in where the user is allowed to reject the incoming call or Manually divert the call.

Otherwise, the user has to access the menu by pressing and turning the navigation and selection key 10, where you can select an item in an overlay window (such as in figure 4). Then the eight menu items mentioned They are previously available. The phone is provided with a special editor allowing the user to enter all kinds of data in it, for example, a telephone, and this editor is described basically in a British patent application series No. 9800746.1 submitted by the applicant on January 14, 1998 (publication nº GB-A-233386).

This editor is very useful in relation to a telephone of a key, and the operation of the phone will be explained with reference to figures 7 and 8. When the user selects "Menu" in idle mode (see the presentation screen on the first row of figure 8) by pressing the navigation key and selection 10, processor 17 shows an overlay window 120 which includes the items available in the menu structure. From According to this embodiment, these elements will be:

1. Call.

2. Phone book.

3. Notepad.

4. Messages.

5. Call log.

6. Phone settings.

7. Call forwarding services.

8. Tone configuration.

9. Calendar.

When the user moves a cursor to the options "Notepad" or Editor and select this option by turning and by pressing the navigation and selection key 10, as will be seen in the first screen of the second row in figure 8, the processor 17 shows a new overlay window (second second row screen in figure 8) asking the user to Specify the type of input you want to make. The phone is in state 103 in figure 7.

He can enter a phone number to make a standard call, a phone number and a name corresponding to store a record in the phone book, an alphanumeric string ("Text") for a calendar, a message to send, etc. If the user selects the item "Phone number" on the second screen of the second row in figure 8, processor 17 changes the background screen of the standby mode to present an editor screen as the first display of the third row of figure 8, and goes to the state of Issue 111 in Figure 7.

A status line 123 indicates the type of current input activity, an auxiliary window 126 indicates a string of entry candidates, and a candidate can be designated by a cursor 127. The cursor movement 127 is controlled by turning the navigation and selection key 10, and the item is selected by pressing the navigation key and selection 10. When a candidate is selected it is transferred to a character string 124 in the main part of the screen presentation in a position indicated by a cursor 125. The window auxiliary 126 includes the numbers 0 to 9, a "+" sign and an icon "OK" indicating that the edition has finished. If the user move cursor 126 out of the string (as in the case of the context sensitive overlay window), auxiliary window 126 will disappear and the navigation and selection key 10 will control the cursor 125 in string 124. Pressing the navigation key and selection 10 the user can retrieve auxiliary window 126 selecting an "Insert" option in an overlay window context sensitive that includes elements such as: "Delete", "Insert", "Remove", "Call" and "Save".

If the user selects the "OK" icon in the auxiliary window 126, said window 126 and cursor 125 will disappear with the string of characters entered 124 present on the screen, as you will see on the second screen of the third row in figure 8. The navigation and selection key 10 will give the "Call" function as the default option when pressed. Yes the navigation key is turned and selection 10, options will appear alternatives in a new overlay window. This window Overlay includes items such as: "Call", "Edit", "SMS", "Remove" and "Save".

With the selection of the option "Edit" the introduced string will be reopened to continue editing, the selection of the "SMS" option will require the user Enter a text message, and select the option "Remove" will cause the phone to leave edit mode and Return to sleep mode without saving anything. The "call" option initiate a call based on the phone number present in the presentation screen The selection of the "Save" option ask the user to enter a name to use as a tag in the phone book. This is shown in the first presentation screen of the fourth row in figure 8. In the status line 123 indicates that the editor currently handles a Name entry for the phone book. A part of the chain text 124 has been introduced.

It should be noted that auxiliary window 126 contains the letters a to z (in the English language version), and an icon to switch between upper and lower case letters, an icon which gives access to a chain of candidates comprising the numbers 0 to 9, and an icon that gives access to a chain of candidates that includes special characters such as Greek letters or Other signs currently used on phones. In general, the editor uses title letters when used in combination with the Phone book application and text letter when used to enter text for a message or calendar entry. The standard letter string shown in auxiliary window 126 It acts as a string of basic characters. Selecting the icon "OK" in the number string or in the character string special retrieves the basic character string while select the "OK" icon in the basic character string will cause the editing to finish.

On the second presentation screen in the fourth row of figure 8 the "OK" icon in the chain of Basic characters have been selected and editing is finished. Pressing the navigation key and selection 10 will save the number and the name entered in a record in the phone book.

Yes, instead of selecting the option "Save", the user would have selected the "SMS" option in the overlay window that appeared when the key was turned navigation and selection 10 on the second screen of the third row in figure 8, he would have been required to write a message of text. The "Write text" screen is shown in the first fifth row screen in figure 8. Status line 123 indicates the type of text currently edited, and a cursor 125 is places in the text string entered 124, indicating the position of the next character selected from the auxiliary window 126. When the "OK" icon is selected in the auxiliary window 126, the entered string is truncated, as indicated by the four points 130, thereby creating space for a key text of function for navigation and selection key 10. The function by default will send an SMS message, but when the key is turned on navigation and selection 10 alternative options will appear. When "Send SMS" is selected, the phone number entered above will be used as the receiving number, and the user will be required to enter their center number of messages if this number is not already stored in the phone.

The basic idea of the one-key telephone is that the phone has a large number of applications, each of the which the editor uses to enter new data. When the "Call" application 101 in figure 7 is selected in the menu, the "Call" 101 application uses the editor application 111 to enter the phone number and application call management to really establish a connection based on The phone number entered.

When the application "Listín" is selected telephone "102, the editor application 111 is used of the same mode to enter a phone number and a name as a new Registration in the phone book. The editor application 111 also it is used when an existing record has to be corrected, and the operation will be the same as reopening the chain to continue the edition, as explained in relation to figure 8. As will be seen in Figure 7, a call can be initiated from a record of the phone book This is already possible in the Nokia 3110 ™.

The application "Notepad" 103 gives access directly to the editor application 111, and the data entered can subsequently, be stored in other applications. However, records can be stored in the application "Bloc de notes "when used as a type of notebook.

The "Message" 104 application also uses the editor application 111 to enter text and numbers of phone. The "Message" 104 application also uses the call handling application 110 to transmit and receive posts.

The "Call Log" application 105 Just list the last incoming, outgoing and missed calls. The application does not use editing, but outgoing calls can Be started from this application. The application "Configure phone "106 only sets some parameters for the phone, and does not require editing.

The application "Divert call" 107 uses the editor application 111 to enter phone numbers and the call handling application 110 to transfer instructions of diversion to the network.

The "Set Ringtone" application 108 I don't normally use the 111 editor application, but the editor application is ready to handle the entry of new ringtones, as described in the patent application British mentioned above serial number 9800746.1, the "Set Ringtone" application 108 can also benefit from Entries from the editor application.

The app "Calendar" 109 also depends on the input from the editor application 111. However, the entries can come, for example, from the application "Bloc of notes "103 or the application" Message "104 - but to through the editor application.

A context sensitive overlay window allows the function keys to be skipped. This increases the presentation portion available for editing text, etc. Do not However, all options will be available in the window superimposed when the navigation and selection key 10 is press The alphanumeric keys normally used can be omitted using a new editor based on entry candidates. In this way the phone size can be reduced.

The functionality of the navigation medium for move a marker on the screen and select media to select items marked by the marker, for example, integrated in a navigation key 10 based on a roller that can be depressed, as described above, varies Depending on the phone mode. Table 1 gives an overview of the most basic phone modes according to the invention.

TABLE 1

one

According to the two embodiments of the invention described the navigation key 10 will have a functionality known per se in the "Sleep Mode". By turning the navigation key 10 the phone will display one of two listed depending on the direction of rotation, for example, the directory phone and last dialed battery. This corresponds to the Navy-keyTM pressure on Nokia phone 3110? In idle mode. Navigation key 10 has a functionality corresponding to a telephone function key Nokia 3110 ™. The "Menu" will be selected by pressing the navigation key 10. However, as a feature Novel will emerge an overlay window including the Menu sub-items.

When the overlay window appears - fine selecting a function key option or the sensitive to context - the phone will be in a "Listing Mode". Turn the 10 navigation key will cause the cursor to navigate / scroll vertically through the elements of the listing, and press the navigation key 10 will cause item selection highlighted by the cursor. If the selection of the elements allows the  user select between sub-elements additional, an overlay window will appear including these sub-elements in the window. Otherwise, it perform an operation, for example, establish a call.

When a call has been established, the phone will be in a "Call Management Mode" in which the Navigation 10, when pressed, will have a key functionality default function (call completion). Turn the key navigation 10 will give access to a list containing operations allowed in the mode in question.

During editing - well using an editor based on a set of alphanumeric keys or using the editor described as the alternative embodiment, the phone will be in a "Entry or Edit Mode". The navigation and selection key 10 will not act as a function key, where the part of the screen normally reserved for the presentation of the operation Function key will be available for input. He cursor will scroll through the string of letters and numbers entered by pressing the navigation key and selection 10. The context sensitive overlay window will appear depending on the position of the cursor by pressing the Navigation and selection key. While the overlay window context sensitive is present on the screen, the phone will be in the "Listing Mode".

Claims (15)

1. Portable telephone comprising: a presentation device (3) adapted to provide a data presentation, input means (10, 12) for entering information and instructions, and a control unit (17) that functions to control the device presentation depending on the operation of the means of entry; said input means (10) including: a navigation key (36, 37) for moving a marker (42) between different positions of the screen; and a selection key (33) intended to provide a request to the control unit to provide a screen of the allowed operations depending on the position of the marker; characterized in that the control unit can generate, upon receipt of the request, an overlay window covering only a portion of the screen, the screen showing said permitted operations dependent on the position of the marker; and where the navigation key and the selection key allow the user to navigate between the allowed operations present in the superimposed window, as well as select one of the permitted operations, the window superimposed by the user being initiated by pressing the selection key. 2. Mobile phone according to the claim 1, wherein the navigation and selection key is centrally positioned in a set (10) arranged on a front surface of said phone. 3. Mobile phone according to the claims 1 or 2, wherein said key set of Navigation and selection includes: a roller body that can be depressed (20); a support structure (23) of the body of roller; an encoder (36, 37) operatively connected to said control unit (17) to detect the rotation of the roller body (twenty); and a sensor (33) operatively connected to said unit of control (17) to detect the depression of the roller body; said control unit generating said overlapping window that includes a set of allowed operations, and that covers a part of that screen when receiving a request through the depression of the roller body. 4. Mobile phone according to the claim 3, wherein the encoder (36, 37) is connected operatively to said control unit (17) to control the displacement of said marker on the mentioned screen depending on the rotation of the roller body (20). 5. Mobile phone according to the claim 4, further comprising a controlled editor (111) by said control unit (17) and operated by said key navigation, defining for the editor the mentioned unit of control: a first presentation portion on said screen to present a chain (124) of information entered; and one second presentation portion (126) on the screen to present a chain of a plurality of possible information candidates; one of whose candidates in the candidate chain is highlighted by said marker (127) whose displacement through of the information candidates is controlled by the turn of the roller body (20), and the candidate can be selected highlighted by entering the information chain entered by pressure of said roller body. 6. Mobile phone according to the claims 3, 4, or 5 wherein said key assembly of navigation and selection (10) turn out to be the only means mentioned of entry of said telephone. 7. Mobile phone according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the content of said Overlay window for an input or edit mode presents context sensitivity determined by the marker. 8. Mobile phone according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said presentation is a dot matrix display to present signs arranged in a predetermined number of lines in the active part of the mentioned screen, each of the lines can contain a plurality of signs, and said marker being provided as a bar flashing that can be positioned between two of the signs. 9. Mobile phone according to the claim 7, wherein said phone changes state with the appearance of the context-sensitive overlay window to a mode of listing, in which a plurality of allowed operations are listed in said overlapping window, and where said request supplied by the input means, change its functionality to selection means that, when pressed, select the operation marked by the mentioned marker. 10. Mobile phone according to anyone of the preceding claims, wherein said window overlay is unchecked from active screen areas by means of delimitation lines that define a framework rectangular. 11. Mobile phone according to the claim 10, wherein said overlay window comprised in the aforementioned rectangular frame has 2 to 4 operations that can be selected 12. Mobile phone according to anyone of the preceding claims, wherein said control unit can manage the aforementioned operations that can be selected from a list arranged in a predetermined order with only one fraction of the total set of transactions presented simultaneously in said overlapping window; and the acting of the aforementioned means of navigation key, causes the exploration through the complete set of operations. 13. Mobile phone according to the claim 12, wherein said overlapping window has three operations with the aforementioned updated screen for each stage of said list, whereby said marker highlights the operation in the center of said overlapping window. 14. Mobile phone according to the claim 15, wherein a complete set of operations is it has two defined operations, such as respective first element and last element of a list; and in a listing mode, where said marker passes outside the first or last element of the list, said overlapping window disappears and said phone goes from listing mode to a mode associated with a background screen 15. Mobile phone according to the claim 1, wherein the area of said overlapping window  it covers from about 30% to about 70% of the area Total active presentation.